Do the right thing to avoid animal problems

Don’t contribute to society’s burden of unwanted, unfed animals. Take care of your own pets and make sure they are neutered, vaccinated, and controlled.

In this week's issue we hear from a local woman who devotes much of her time to caring for society's discards; animals no one wants. She and a group of caring individuals have formed a group, Have A Heart, that tries to deal with strays of all kinds.

Given the largely rural area surrounding Tonganoxie, these unwanted animals are familiar to us all. We see starving dogs wandering down county roads, find hungry, neglected cats nosing about our porches for food, and worse.

These sights are heart-breaking to those who care for animals. Many of us take on a stray pet or two, whether willingly or unwillingly. But we can't hope to take care of all the strays, and they do create a burden. Unfed animals can become aggressive animals, particularly when they travel in packs. Cattle and other farm animals are not safe from packs of hungry dogs.

Leavenworth is the only city in the county with its own animal control facility and staff. Tonganoxie has an animal control officer who works on call. When he picks up an animal, it is taken to a local veterinarian's, where it is held for 72 hours. If it is not claimed within 72 hours and cannot be placed in a home, it is euthanized, according to city hall.

If you witness people dumping animals, report them. If you have ever thought about doing it yourself, please think again. It is far, far more responsible to take it to an animal shelter and pay the fee, or have the animal put down, than to turn it loose to experience what will probably be a long, drawn-out and painful death by starvation or exposure.We recall a quote from somewhere, years and years ago. "The more I see of people, the better I like my dogs." There is much to be said for humane behavior.